Little by little, Christian Jones is learning to trust his body again.

The fifth-year senior Northwestern wide receiver, who missed last season with a left knee injury suffered in preseason practice, is taking it one step at a time, one out route at a time, one precious moment at a time.

The Wildcats need Jones, with his big-play potential, to be a healthy contributor if they are to improve on back-to-back 5-7 seasons.

"It was hard to watch them have the season they had and knowing that I couldn't do anything to help," Jones said. "But I learned I could help in other ways. So it was a growing process."

Last season wasn't the first time Jones had to deal with a torn ACL. He tore the one in his right knee during seven-on-seven drills in high school in Houston and missed most of his senior year.

"To know that I went through (the high school rehabilitation) blindly and to know I have more support and more resources made it a little easier this time," he said.

Yet Jones needed a second surgery on the left knee during the spring after he tore cartilage.

"I was pretty pissed," he said. "I thought (the rehab) was over ... and I get hurt getting back. I felt like I had so many strides forward, and then I had to restart.

"It was a very trying time. I had to take some time just to get myself back."

That meant more arduous rehab sessions and more idle hours playing "FIFA 15" on Xbox.

As a junior in 2013, Jones caught 54 passes for 668 yards and four touchdowns. Can he repeat that this season and stretch the defense for redshirt freshman quarterback Clayton Thorson?

"I can't call myself a playmaker because I haven't played in a long time, but anything I can do to help this team to win games, I'll do it," Jones said. "If I have to go back to blocking, like I did when we won the Gator Bowl (in the 2012 season), I'll do it. As long as we're winning games, I'm happy doing whatever."

Coach Pat Fitzgerald is monitoring Jones' physical and mental approach. He doesn't want his top receiver to think he has to carry the entire burden of big plays by himself.

All the action from Northwestern's practice in Evanston on Aug. 12, 2015.

"He's a difference-maker," Fitzgerald said. "He's a mismatch size-wise (6-foot-3, 230 pounds). He's a mismatch from a standpoint of experience.

"The production from our wide receiver position last year was unacceptable. To get him back, that puts more pressure on the defense and it gives us more flexibility. So Christian is a big piece of the puzzle."

The offensive puzzle also involves the proper deployment of a stable of young running backs, led by sophomore Justin Jackson, and senior superback Dan Vitale.

"If you know Christian as well as I do, I am not worried about him at all," Vitale said. "I have a feeling he is going to jump right back into it, probably be stronger than the last time that (injury) happened. He has been through this before, and he knows what it takes to come back."

With the opener against Stanford less than a week away, Jones said he is getting those game-time feelings of exhilaration again. But the confidence that his body can respond will come only with more time and success on the field.

"Until you get used to running those routes and doing everything you used to do over and over again, it's hard to really get confidence back," Jones said.

Reason to believe: The Wildcats have seven home games and another at Soldier Field against Illinois, and Ohio State and Michigan State aren't on the schedule. A strong, experienced secondary should be a strength for a defense with attitude. The defense also could benefit from a productive running game that better controls time of possession.

Reason to doubt: Inexperience at key positions, including quarterback, could take time and patience to develop. Quality depth is lacking at some positions, as evidenced last season when injuries devastated the Wildcats.

Big hole to fill: With LB Chi Chi Ariguzo, the team's top tackler, pursuing an NFL job with the Chargers, the Wildcats need to identify a leader on the defense.

Breakout player: QB Clayton Thorson does not have to amass sensational stats to make a big impact. Taking care of the football, involving multiple weapons and making smart decisions top the list of priorities for the redshirt freshman from Wheaton North.

Season is a success if ... The Wildcats can take care of business at home, stay relatively healthy, win at least seven games and return to a bowl game.